KAOHSIUNG, September 18, 2018
The ATP Challenger Tour has returned to in Kaohsiung, Taiwan for the seventh edition of the prestigious 2018 Kaohsiung OEC Open.
Gael Monfils (photo: OEC Open)
World No. 42 Gael Monfils is the top seed of the $150,000 hard-court event this week. The 32-year-old Frenchman is in return from multiple injuries and is making his first Challenger appearance since 2013. Monfils will open his title bid against Australian qualifier Akira Santillan on Wednesday.
No. 2 seed Malek Jaziri started his Kaohsiung campaign with a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win over Zhe Li of China on Tuesday. The 34-year-old from Tunisia saved all three break points he faced, capitalizing on four of his own to advance in one hour and 12 minutes. Jaziri will next face Federico Gaio of Italy, who cruised past Filip Peliwo from Canada 6-3, 6-0 in only 54 minutes.
Later in the day, Jason Jung defeated Yunseong Chung of South Korea 6-3, 6-4. The fourth seed from Chinese Taipei won 54 per cent of the total point played to prevail in one hour and 39 minutes. Next up for the local favourite will be the winner of the encounter between Tomislav Brkic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Korean youngster Duckhee Lee.
